Pelosi: “It is clear we must enter an era of austerity"

[The Hitman]

Source: Think Progress

In a statement that is shocking many pundits, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) warned the country, “It is clear we must enter an era of austerity; to reduce the deficit through shared sacrifice.” However, Pelosi denounced the plan put forward by Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) as “a short-term plan that burdens the middle class and seniors and continues debate about whether we will default in a few months from now.” Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan with new revenue, but the two sides remain divided over their respective plans for deficit reduction. And both sides seem to be expecting the worst and preparing the country for the same. “We’re about to go over a cliff here,” Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) said Monday afternoon.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/07/25/278696/pelosi-it-is-clear-we-must-enter-an-era-of-austerity/

---

Well. It's official. We lost.

[yourout]

1. In other words.....bend over.

[Bragi]

14. Can we maybe negotiate how far we bend over? /nt

[yourout]

18. Nope.....only whether or not we get KY.

[Confusious]

72. I bet no KY

The bankers and the rich got that to use elsewhere.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

141. So is that the difference between the GOPers an Dems these days?

At least when the Dems butt fuck you, they use lube?? :shrug: That's sure as hell what it feels like. :mad:

[villager]

55. No, no "negotiation" -- we will be told by members of the "other" political party

n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

57. BOHICA...

Bend over, here it comes again.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grasswire]

98. well, fuck armani, too! n/t

[DJ13]

2. These people never heard of FDR?

Austerity in this economic climate is a recipe for a prolonged recession (or even a depression).

I cant believe how fucking stupid (and corrupt) the pols in DC are.

[KeepItReal]

6. +1

eom

[Doctor Hurt]

9. They've heard it of course

There is nothing they can do. Their opponents are insane.

[awoke_in_2003]

58. Not stupid, complicit. nt

[Jkid]

66. That's what they want.

If they actually solved the problem, they would be out of a job.

[mmonk]

125. All of them have. But we are in the era of corporatism.

[Blue_Tires]

137. They evidently haven't been watching the news, either

the very word "austerity" has become radioactive, as evidenced by the people of England, Ireland, Spain, Greece, etc.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. It's not libel if it's true.

She’s the Minority Leader in the House, where money bills must originate, and where there is no filibuster. And the Democratic caucus in the Senate only contains about 38-40 actual Democrats

Unless and until the House reverts to Democratic control, and the Ben Nelsons of this world join the other fossils of the Permian, she’s just stating facts.

The takeaway -- don't lose elections. Because this has consequences.

[Lorien]

107. No, she's using GOP talking points and language to advance the corporate agenda. nt

[No Elephants]

117. Are they still GOP talking points when the President and the Democratic leader of the House are the

ones speaking?

Are they still Bush tax cuts when President Obama presents them to a Democratic Congress as a fait accompli and Bush has been out of the WH for two years?

[EFerrari]

108. Campaign volunteers cannot create jobs unless they get paid

and jobs is why we lost the House.

[No Elephants]

118. Republicans seem to win in fact, no matter who theoretically wins or loses electdions.

[Tesha]

143. Don't lose elections? It's a shame no one thought of that in 2009 and 2010...

...while "our" Congress and President were collectively doing
Jack Shit about things that mattered.

Had they gone to work then, they might have had a different
outcome in the 2010 election.

Tesha

[RKP5637]

4. "Well. It's official. We lost." The dem party has that down pretty good now. If in

doubt, lose.

[The Hitman]

10. This is a former chair of the progressive caucus

Capitulating to what 75% of the US (at last count) does not favor.

I can see the writing on the wall. I don't understand why she put it there, but it's there nonetheless.

[RKP5637]

27. The majority of the population IMO makes the mistake of thinking this

country is about them, it's not. That went out the window when the 400 holding about 50% of the wealth of this country, wall street, banksters and some corporations bought this country and now own the gov., congress and many politicians. George Carlin was always right about this.

[awoke_in_2003]

60. To quote Carlin...

"It's the American dream- you have to be asleep to believe it"

[RKP5637]

96. Yep, that pretty much sums it all up! n/t

[patrice]

5. I wonder where we'd be if she/we had been able to sunset the Bush Tax Cuts last year, instead of

trying to sell ponies for ________ (?)

[patrice]

22. My theory is that she was suckered by the TRUE "Professional" Left, a.k.a. Arianna Huffington

and what'sername over at FDL.

Clicks are ASSETS on the internet, worth money to professionals who have something they are selling.

[Wilms]

7. Who is "we", Nancy?

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's wealth grows 62% to $35.2M, Boehner, Reid's worth increases too

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-16/news/29687626_1_stock-gains-house-speaker-charles-rangel

[RKP5637]

13. The mistake we sometimes make is thinking politicians have anything in common with

the majority of the nation. Most have significant financial holdings and are insular to the rest of the population. I don't care what anyone says, if "they" aren't feeling the pain directly, they aren't feeling it. Americans are herded like sheep today. And we get a lot of lip service, and the great leaders this country once had have long since passed.

[patrice]

28. Instincts are an important part of this and when you've lived her kind of life, no matter what the

labels you've chosen for yourself, your instincts are those of someone who doesn't REALLY need to get it right.

[closeupready]

151. Bingo, Bango, Bongo, there we go. Collect your prize at the door. +1000.

Amazes me that she gets sent back to Congress every time she runs.

[alp227]

86. where are Pelosi's and Reid's sacrifices? n/t

[RobinA]

144. Yeah

I mean, really. I've never NOT been in austerity.

[Enrique]

8. record corporate profits, and we have to enter an era of austerity

and she's a Democrat.

[The Hitman]

12. Maybe the only Democrat left is the man in your avatar

Who, ironically, is not a Democrat.

[No Elephants]

119. We should call him what he is, a Democratic Socialist.

He ran for the Senate as an Independent, but Democratic Socialist is how he self identifies.

[Cleita]

11. I don't see anyone sharing sacrifice except the poor

and the elderly.

[RKP5637]

20. Yep, that's the plan. Go after the ones least able to protest. They know the

wealthy would kick their asses around the world several times if they F'ed with them, so they go after the poor. Same F'en story all the time. And the wealthy own this government, it's no secret.

So, the masses are going to get F'ed over in this country over and over again. It's the new American way. And if the masses get too pissy about it all, it "will" become a police state.

[No Elephants]

120. And most of them have precious little to share.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Huh. What will she be sacrificing? Any chance she'll fight tooth and nail to end the wars

that are killing the empire, erm, nation?

[Left NYC]

32. She had that opportunity starting in 2006. She did nothing.

[GreenPartyVoter]

33. Sad to say, but it's true. Welcome to DU.

[Left NYC]

39. Thanks!

[dixiegrrrrl]

78. Ditto and ditto.

:hi: for you
and

:mad: :mad: :mad: for Pelosi

[patrice]

51. It's called noblese oblige. I expect she'll see that we get a few fish but fuck the fishing-pole. nt

[grasswire]

16. hey! we've been sharing our side of the austerity!!!

Nigh onto fifty years now, as the working class has been hit more and more and more.

Ms. Pelosi, it's time for YOUR SIDE to share the austerity.

[Sherman A1]

23. Well Said!

You hit the nail on the head. The working class is screwed while their productivity continues to increase and increase and increase.

Maybe we should all just slow down a bit and quit being so damn productive.

[BeyondGeography]

17. Too bad about Congressional pensions and perks

Wait...

[No Elephants]

121. Congressional compensation is protected by Constitutional amendment.

[xchrom]

19. Et tu, Nancy? Nt

[The Stranger]

21. The Pelosi Disaster who took impeachment off the table STRIKES AGAIN!

What an incomparable disaster she is.

[patrice]

24. Sorry to say, I must agree. nt

[No Elephants]

122. Oh, I can think of a few comparisons.

[on point]

25. OK then here is a 6 trillion fix to the deficit that doesn't touch the average person

* Eliminate Bush tax cuts for the wealthy - 100 billion / yr
* Close oil gas and corp loopholes - 100 billion / year
* Cut the Military at least 400 billion / yr

That is 6 trillion over 10 years, plus saving on the interest.

WE did not screw up the debt!! The corps and the repukes did that.

DO these things before eve THINKING about coming to the American people!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Remember, the debt would be PAID OFF BY NOW COMPLETELY were it not for these fools!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stop accepting the repuke arguments. They are delusional. They do not know history, don't accept science, can't think logically and their economic model is an empirical failure.
Start calling them out for the failures and delusional world view.

[Psephos]

111. The problem is that we need a $15 trillion fix.

You're about 9 short.

[on point]

134. Actually only short about 900 billion

Provided we take in more than we spend we can gradually pay down the 13 trillion debt over time. Every reduction in the debt should generate interest savings, which should only go to pay down the debt, no tax holidays.

Part of this extra 900 billion will happen when the economy picks up, the rest will probably have to met through other means including some additional revenues and some additional spending cuts like dropping

Star wars - 10 billion / yr
Nuclear power research 30 billion / yr
Clean coal research 10 billion / yr
Israel military 5 billion / yr

There is another 500 billion over 10 years.

Create single payer health care, save the country at least 200 billion / year.

My point is that it is easy to find cuts good for the country and the world if they only look in the right places, and those places are NOT where they are focused right now.

[No Elephants]

123. Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, by their own terms, expired December 31, 2010.

By that time, a Democratic Congress had had almost four years in which to repeal them, with a Democratic President having been in the Oval Office for almost two of those years.

President Obama negotiated a deal with McConnell and sent it to a Dmeocratic Congress as a fait accompli; and a Democratic Congress adopted it. I think we should tell the truth and shame the devil. We are not operating under Bush tax cuts today. We've barely been operating under them since 2006.

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Austerity says a hoarder of cash and wealth beyond anyone's

needs. Tens of millions she sits on.

[Left NYC]

29. My girlfriend is telling me

not to be upset with Pelosi over this because the president has beaten her down at every opportunity. Still, I can't help but feel that this is a complete surrender.

[kenny blankenship]

70. It certainly sounds like she's telegraphing a complete surrender

[No Elephants]

124. Unlike the head of her Party, President Samuel Morse?

[LoisB]

30. SHARED SACRIFICE

Why do we allow them to control the message? I am as sick of "shared sacrifice" as I am "the American People". How did we allow "entitlement" to become a dirty word? Damned right it's an entitlement; I paid both Social Security and Medicare insurance PREMIUMS, therefore, I am ENTITLED to them. It all started when we allowed "liberal" to become a four-letter word.

"Austerity" is the four-letter word.

[Lorien]

109. 'Entitlement" was ALWAYS intended to be a dirty word. That's why Reagan used

it to rebrand social programs-EARNED BENEFITS- as "entitlements", as in "does your brat think that he's entitled to another cookie?" "Do you think that you're entitled to a six figure income?" The word comes from the idle rich: the titled landed gentry who were given riches and perks by birthright, never earning a damn thing through hard work. THAT'S why Reagan rebranded social programs; to make them seem like unearned givaways to the lazy and irresponsible. We should never use Reagan's term.

[geckosfeet]

31. Bite me.

[yourout]

41. best response so far....lol.

[TDale313]

45. +1

[Altoid_Cyclist]

73. Very succinct and sad to say....appropriate.

We have met the enemy....and they are going to (as usual), stick it to the American people who don't make up the top 1% of the wealth in the US.

Chess, even 10 dimensional chess and poker are games. What is taking place in DC is no bleeping game.

Let's see someone construe this as another victory for the Dems?????

[Angry Dragon]

34. Time to give all these jokers a call

Here is the list


House http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.aspx

Senate: it is a pdf
www.senate.gov/general/resources/pdf/senators_phone_list.pdf

[LoisB]

35. "WE"

Speak for yourself Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi; who is the effing "we"? As soon as you have to sell one of those black pearl necklaces you wear then come talk to me about "austerity". Until then, keep your b.s. to yourself. We need a third party - the Dems in D.C. have sold us down the river.

[AngryOldDem]

36. "Shared sacrifice"

Buzzwords for the lower and middle classes to prepare to get fucked YET AGAIN.

[alp227]

87. hasn't Bernie Sanders said that a lot

or you forgot to say that Nancy Pelosi has this hidden message

[CrispyQ]

37. "Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan with new revenue..."

How, exactly, does that translate into shared sacrifice?

[aquart]

38. How much are the Koch brothers going to share?

How much is Congress cutting its pay and benefits?

[emilyg]

40. Pelosi - let's start with you.

[grahamhgreen]

42. It is clear you have a mandate to re-tax the rich.

[kenny blankenship]

43. Game. Over.

3rd Party time.

[awoke_in_2003]

62. "This country could use a third party...

and it desperately needs a second". Jim Hightower

[Ruby the Liberal]

76. ^^^ THIS ^^^

:applause:

[Middle finga]

44. Well that's a wrap, we've lost.

The Dems have officially thrown in the towel, even though they still control the Senate and the WH. The T-Bag control Repub party has beat the democratic party into complete submission.

[mdmc]

46. I bet she has never known austerity

:(

[ixion]

47. And when she says 'we' she doesn't mean Nancy Pelosi, et. al.

who will continue to live quite comfortably (to put it mildly) while the rest of us suffer so that the monied class may live well.

[girl gone mad]

48. This nation is being led off of a cliff by a bunch of ignorant, petulant children.

If the depression hasn't already hit you, get ready, because it's coming.

[MichiganVote]

49. Shared sacrifice my ass. So long as we are ruled by corporate elites, the wealthy are free

of the austerity disease the rest of us have to stomach.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blkmusclmachine]

52. Voting doesn't work, writing letters doesn't work, calling doesn't work,

posting on blogs doesn't work, and marching in the streets doesn't work. We're DEAD to these fuckers. What's left??

[villager]

56. National Strike

n/t

[blank space]

65. Let it happen.

i have been saying this for a long time - let it happen, encourage it.

For America to have their rights restored, the power of the people restored, for corporations to work as subservient compliant social structures to the interests of the people and the country, for politicians to actually work for the interests of the people -

things need to go a lot further. Eventually the people will awaken - and when that happens, the same thing will occur which has happened at every juncture in every empire in all of history - the people will arise.


It is the only way - history is 100% on this issue. It is guaranteed that power will usurp entirely, and it is guaranteed that the people will only respond when pushed way too far, and that the only thing which will restore the balance is this response of the people.

Let it happen - id be pushing for a default, and then removing medicare, medicaid and social security.....

[sendero]

79. I agree..

.. most Americans are NOT for this version of "shared sacrifice". they want the rich to chip in too and it looks like once again they are not. Let the pukes have their way. Their day in the sun will be very brief and the backlash will be a tsunami that even their rigged voting and media won't be able to stop.

[Davis_X_Machina]

71. You won't like the answers...

..because it's not hot and sexy. But there is an answer -- and it only takes thirty years.

[Odin2005]

92. Revolution.

[Davis_X_Machina]

102. They tend to have...

...highly unpredictable outcomes.

[No Elephants]

126. As opposed to voting for Obama in 2008? But, I get your point. And we'd lose a revolution anyway.

They'd mow us down in the streets and whoever remained would be even more sheeplike than Americans are now.

[patrice]

53. BTW, If reactions to my posts are any measure, COFFEE PARTY is mad at her too. nt

[bluebuzzard]

54. Hey Nancy start here

list is a year old but still a good start
http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2010/guide/-49892-1.html

[truedelphi]

59. So the "bait and switch" House member is

Switching again.

Cannot say I am shocked.

[dixiegrrrrl]

61. Anyone doubt now who is running the world?

or that the Plan is indeed written for USA as much as Europe.?

My take is that things are coming to a head because the resources are running out faster than TPTB planned, and they are trying to grab as much as they can as fast as they can.

No American exceptionalism anymore, buckle up.

[Lorien]

110. What does "TPTB" stand for? nt

[girl gone mad]

113. the powers that be. n/t

[slackmaster]

63. Gee, I hope she doesn't have to sell her winery or any of her other homes

:grouphug:

[avaistheone1]

64. We need a Joan of Arc, or at least a Norma Rae leading this country right now.

[Davis_X_Machina]

67. You need 40,000 people you'll never hear of...

...and most of who you won't like if you meet them, running for school board, and for the water district board, and selectman or selectwoman, and county commissioner. Some of whom later then run for state representative. Some of whom run for state senate. Some of whom run for the House and Senate.

It takes thirty years. That's how long it took this iteration of the GOP.

Which position are you running for in the fall? Or if not running, whom are a small group of you and your friends bullying into running?

[No Elephants]

127. This iteration of the GOP had Koch money and contacts behind it.

Per a New Yorker article, they started cooking up the Tea Party in the 1980's. Prior to that, they had gone Libertarian--the orignal proponents of starting with things like school boards.

The money and power in our Party seems, overall, content with Democrats as they are.

[sarcasmo]

68. We means the middle class the working class and the poor. Rich folks

have no need to worry.

[Faygo Kid]

69. I'll be 60 in a month. Have worked for over 40 years. I don't think I will see Social Security.

Let alone Medicare. But I do think I will live long enough to see a nation of a privileged few living in gated communities while the rest of us will need to hurry up and die, as Alan Grayson put it.

I had the chance to live in Europe in the early '70s as a young man. Wish I had taken it.

[alp227]

90. I'm sorry about you/Europe, and chances are you'll have an unhappy 60th. :( n/t

[cstanleytech]

74. My magic eight ball told me she meant

austerity for most americans but not herself.

[Ruby the Liberal]

75. FDR is rolling in his grave, corpse mumbling about history and people who don't learn from it

[Thor_MN]

77. The french had a solution when the aristocracy said "we must enter an era of austerity"....

[krabigirl]

80. yeah, but we can still fund six wars, over-zealous TSA and DEA, DHS, etc etc etc

[OwnedByFerrets]

81. LISTEN TO THIS!!!! WE THE PEOPLE HAVE SACRIFICED ENOUGH

WHAT ARE THE FUCKING MILLIONAIRES SACRIFICING????????????????????

[OwnedByFerrets]

82. Every one of her constituents should call her tomorrow morning

and DEMAND to know what SHE is sacrificing

[alp227]

84. well, Americans, will you sit at home or suck it up

or do this...

(Greece)


(Spain)


(UK)

[grasswire]

85. why are Democratic leaders afraid to engage in CLASS WARFARE?

Republicans aren't!!!

Come on, Nancy. Say it.

[daleo]

97. Some are engaged in class warfare

But the class they support is the upper class.

[No Elephants]

128. Politicians of botrh Parties have engaged in class warfare for years, quite successfully.

On the side of the rich.

[Safetykitten]

88. She can start. 50% Salary cut and no benefits.

[No Elephants]

130. Sorry. Congressional compensation is insulated by Constitutional amendment.

So, when she says "shared sacrifice," she doesn't mean the very wealthy, like Paul Pelosi, or members of Congress, like Nancy Pelosi.

Besides, half of Congressional salaries and no perks would be only a drop in the bucket. The big money is in the military and its contractors and in various tax breaks. Plus, according to Obama's IRS, scofflaws like wait staff, who don't declare all their tips.

[area51]

133. +1

There's no sacrifice at all coming from congress. Also no talk of stopping the multiple wars of choice, since they're the ones who can do this.

[Demeter]

89. What do you mean WE, Rich White Woman?

80% of the country is already austere.

[Odin2005]

91. Bite me, you spineless tool of a congresswoman!

[high density]

93. So we can spend near infinite money on wars and tax cuts for the rich

But we can't ever stop doing either/both of those... Great system we've got going on here.

[unkachuck]

94. "It is clear we must enter an era of austerity;..."

....because you won't fight for the American people....it's clear to me you're, useless, hopeless and pathetic....

[alp227]

95. Anthony Weiner resigning, David Wu possibly resigning, Pelosi now giving up,

this party looks like it'll go out of business.

[lovuian]

99. Pelosi you voted for this debt of which went to foreign banks

lets talk about some jail time for crooks

and by the way stop the WARS

[alarimer]

100. Time for pitchforks and torches.

And maybe the guillotine. Teach of few of those rich bastards a lesson they won't soon forget.

[Juche]

101. The deficit is minor after you factor out the depression we are in

About 75% of the deficit is due to the depression, if the economy were doing well it would be 300-400 billion a year. That can be easily fixed by ending the wars, removing the bush tax cuts and making some other changes.

[Marthe48]

103. Austerity? Austerity? Is she serious?

Does she mean those of us that are already hanging on by a thread, that we let go the thread? Does she mean calling off the dogs of war that our resources stop going into the destruction of one country after another and begin returning to the public so we can rebuild our own country? Does she mean peeling some wealth off the rich like lard off a hog carcass? Who is to be austere? Those of us who in order to help our country and environment stopped mindlessly consuming, so therefore don't have much to cut? Or the mindless consumers who lived the full extent of their paycheck, and now have no paycheck to spend and who may be planning to austerely cut back the lives of their families so spare them the humiliation of losing int he game of capitalism? Will the elected be austere and take cuts in pay and benefits and retirement? Will the captains of industry who are driving us over a cliff be austere? Will big oil turn away from crushing oil out of rock while the new hires, grateful for any job at all, live in tents? Will big oil turn away from that endeavor and try, just try to create cheap renewable fuel NOW, and not 20, 30,40 years down the road? Will the medical leaders be austere and cut the cost of basic care? And stop acting like they will save our lives, when they can't and won't? Go read Grapes of Wrath. That is the lot of most of the world and the socialist programs that lifted the working American up and away from living like a serf in a novel, are vilified as the tool of Satan, or worse. The United States, whoever the hell comes up with ideas of illegal invasions, and long-term occupation with no supply train, needs to be stopped. Any country that invaded Afghanistan went in a rich super power and came out a third rate pauper. Enough is enough. Get out of the war business, and let us Americans pick up what's left of our lives. Let the people who didn't send their loved ones to war fix their lives. Help the families with wounded vets get used to living a radically different way. Just stop hanging us out to dry.

[mcollier]

104. And to think fighting for the Public Option was raw deal

... The taxpayers taking an a$$ kickin' strong armed robbery by those who don't really care to recognize who they are robbing. We The People, are slaves... No Taxation Without Representation... Remember????

[Lorien]

106. And the only ones with representation are the wealthiest 2%. nt

[Lorien]

105. Unless by "austerity" she means slashing the defense budget, along with all

paychecks in the house and Senate, then I say FUCK THAT RIGHT WING BULLSHIT!!!

[demwing]

112. Parsing down to the core information

"Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan with new revenue"
"Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan with new..."
"Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan with..."
"Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan..."
"Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced..."
"Democrats have given up on their demands for a..."
"Democrats have given up on their demands for..."
"Democrats have given up on their demands..."
"Democrats have given up on their..."
"Democrats have given up on..."

"Democrats have given up..."

[EFerrari]

114. We're in six useless shooting wars. Stick it to the Pentagon, Nancy

we've done our share.

[Bonobo]

115. To say such a thing without promising a DRASTIC cut to US war stance is disgusting. nt

Foreign military aid.

Hundreds of thousands of troops in dozens of countries.

Billions for military air conditioning.

Unnecessary defense spending.

Lost bribe money in the hundreds of billions.

The US is nauseating in its choices of where to spend the people's tax money.

[PotatoChip]

116. Wait, what?

"Democrats have given up on their demands for a balanced plan with new revenue, but the two sides remain divided over their respective plans for deficit reduction."

At what point did DC Dems give up on plans for new revenue and why? Wasn't the President, Reid and Pelosi with us on this as recently as last week? I don't get what they are trying to accomplish (even politically) by giving in on revenue. Polls show that most Americans favor getting rid of the GW tax cuts for the top 5%.

This does not make any sense. Someone please tell me that this is somehow part of the negotiating strategy and they do NOT intend to remove the demand for more revenue. Aargh!

[CBHagman]

129. I'd like to know how many posting on this thread...

...have any experience whipping the vote.

[No Elephants]

131. Hey, Annunciata, share this!

Paul Pelosi (mostly)

"Financial status

Nancy Pelosi is among the richest members of Congress,<107> with an estimated net worth of approximately $58 million, the 12th highest estimated net worth in Congress, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics<108>

While members of Congress are not required to disclose their exact net worth, organizations such as the Center for Responsive Politics prepare estimated ranges based on public disclosures. The CRP's midpoint estimate of the Pelosis' net worth is $58,436,537 as of 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, with a possible range from $-7 million to $124 million.<109>

In addition to their large portfolio of jointly owned San Francisco Bay Area real estate, the couple also owns a vineyard in St. Helena, California, valued between $5 million and $25 million. Pelosi's husband also owns stock, including $1 million in Apple Inc., and is the owner of the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi


Income of Nancy Pelosi also secure:

"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

Amendment XXVII to the Constitution of the United States


Adopted in Congress in 1789, but not ratified by the states until 1992, 203 years later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-seventh_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution


I propose we rescusitate the practice of tarring and feathering for the limited purposes of using it on any politician who uses the terms "adult conversation," "shared sacrifice," "kick the can down the road" and the like with respect to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, especially when he or she omits mention of new revenues and mention of what he or she intends to "share."

And, if this does not prove to you how loyal Democratic leaders of Congress are to President Obama, what will?

[PotatoChip]

132. With an estimated 58 million,

she ranks 12th? Who, I wonder who are the 11 before her, and where do they stand on this "shared sacrifice" ruse? :grr:

[No Elephants]

149. Good question. You prompted me to google.

http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2009/guide/-38181-1.html 2009 data, both houses, richest first--Democrats well represented; range of ten below is over $167 million to 40 million and article notes 2009 figures represent total losses of $275 million from 2008. Kerry's over $167 million, for example, was down over 28% from the prior year.

Kerry
Issa
Harman
Rockefeller
Warner
Polis
Buchanan
Lautenberg
Feinstein
Teague

This follow up is entitled "New Members are among the riches in Congress. http://www.rollcall.com/news/-202702-1.html

However, none of the freshman named in that article touch the top ten above.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

135. Lead by example or shut the fuck up. 58million+ wealth & still accepts govt check, FUCKING HYPOCRITE...

[progressoid]

136. Says the woman worth 35 Million Dollars.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

142. The CRP's midpoint estimate of the Pelosis' net worth is $58,436,537 as of 2009,

Paul Pelosi (mostly)

"Financial status

Nancy Pelosi is among the richest members of Congress,<107> with an estimated net worth of approximately $58 million, the 12th highest estimated net worth in Congress, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics<108>

While members of Congress are not required to disclose their exact net worth, organizations such as the Center for Responsive Politics prepare estimated ranges based on public disclosures. The CRP's midpoint estimate of the Pelosis' net worth is $58,436,537 as of 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, with a possible range from $-7 million to $124 million.<109>

In addition to their large portfolio of jointly owned San Francisco Bay Area real estate, the couple also owns a vineyard in St. Helena, California, valued between $5 million and $25 million. Pelosi's husband also owns stock, including $1 million in Apple Inc., and is the owner of the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi


See response above:

131. Hey, Annunciata, share this!

[ProfessionalLeftist]

138. Call it complicit. Call it stupid. Whatever you call it, it's not going to work

unless the objective is to kill people and destroy the US and world economy.

[fascisthunter]

139. ah.... nice act Pelosi... now the truth comes out

did ya think a week was good enough before going along with the cuts to SS, etc.? What a bunch of frauds...

[bvar22]

140. Nancy plays a good Liberal on TV, but when push comes to shove,

Paulson with Co-Conspirators

Now THIS is Bi-Partisanship.
Better get used to it, SUCKERS!!!
Hahahahahahahahaha!

[sarcasmo]

145. Kick back to the top, clueless rich politicians.

[Matariki]

146. "shared sacrifice" is a BIG LIE

The only people who will get sacrificed are the poor, the elderly and the middle class.

We all know it.

[Critters2]

147. How much of that sacrifice will you be sharing, Nancy? nt

[Doctor_J]

148. It's all over for the Democratic Party

They don't have a constituency any more. And as Darwin notes, once an entity doesn't serve any function, it goes away.

RIP.

[iscooterliberally]

150. It's been a game of good cop/bad cop on a grand scale... n/t

[Telly Savalas]

152. Elected officials really ought to have a basic grasp of economics

Anybody who thinks that austerity measures are a remedy for a stagnating economy is a fucking moron that needs to resign.

[timtom]

153. We'll be more than glad to follow the leadership

who gets us out of Iraq/Afghanistan, takes cuts in their benefits package, shuts down TSA, DHS, and starts rebuilding America's infrastructure, and curtails or dismantles the Fed.

Then, let us talk about austerity!